Indian delegation goes to Australia to learn more about GST5/5 (1)

A delegation of state finance ministers from India visited Sydney from 27-30 September 2015 and met with representatives of the Australian government to learn more about GST and related concerns. The GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bill is a model of taxation where an umbrella tax of certain percentage is charges on all goods and services at all stages of their life cycle from manufacture to sale and consumption. Any party that has paid GST twice will be refunded. GST has raised a lot of concerns in India and more needs to be learnt about it before it can be successfully implemented in the country.

The first finance minister of Telengana was also present. Shri Etela Rajender belongs to the Telengana Rashtra Samithi party and is its floor leader in the state assembly. He gave an exclusive interview to +91news in which he talked about the visit. He said that it was a four day trip to learn about the implementation of GST and its merits by studying the Australian model, which has been under implementation since 2000. Among other chit chat he praised the beauty of Australia and discussed the need to build a tension free society.

The delegates met with representative of the New South Wales Government including Mike Baird (Premier), Gladys Berejiklian (Treasurer), Stuart Ayres (Minister for Trade). They also met Blair Comely (Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet) and Dr Ken Henry (former Secretary to the Treasury).